T-Bones rally past 'Cats to tie series

T-Bones rally past 'Cats to tie series 1-1

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  • T-Bones rally past 'Cats to tie series
  • T-Bones rally past 'Cats to tie series
  • T-Bones rally past 'Cats to tie series

KANSAS CITY, Kan. | The comeback the Kansas City T-Bones mounted Wednesday night is one the RailCats are used to seeing.

They're just not used to being on this end of it.

MORE: Cats sweep postseason honors.

The T-Bones scored 11 unanswered runs as they beat the 'Cats 12-7 in the second game of the Northern League Championship Series, which is now tied 1-1 as it heads to Gary.

"I think (Kansas City) played a little RailCat baseball today," third baseman Eric McNamee said. "Nobody said this was going to be easy."

The RailCats took a 7-1 lead after a third inning in which the �Cats scored six runs on six hits and chased T-Bones starter Chris Rhoads. McNamee cleared the loaded bases with a triple as 12 batters came to the plate in the half-inning.

But momentum swayed after that when the T-Bones retaliated by lighting up RailCats pitcher Tony Cogan.

A grand slam by Craig Hurba in the fourth inning -- well over the left field wall -- all but eliminated the RailCats' six-run third inning, pulling within 7-6.

In the fifth inning, the tying run came home when a breaking ball hit Jim Fasano in the shoulder with the bases loaded. The next pitch became the game's second grand slam -- this one by Bo Hart -- as the T-Bones took an 11-7 lead.

"It's a bad time to have a game like that," Cogan said. "The guys gave me a six-run lead and I can't hold it. That should be enough."

Cogan gave up three homers, including a solo shot to Fasano in the second inning, giving the T-Bones five home runs in CommunityAmerica Ballpark over the first two games.

The RailCats had seven hits off of Rhoads in his first 2 2/3 innings, then only five against the T-Bones' relief staff.

"We did some real nice things against Chris Rhoads," RailCats manager Greg Tagert said. "Obviously the key is certainly their bullpen played a big role."

"We've been hitting starters really well through the playoffs, but the bullpen has been giving us a little trouble," said McNamee, who had two hits and three RBIs. "Today's another example of that when we struggled the bullpen again. ... They did what they needed to do to win."

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